Instrument to aid in vocal tone culture



Aug. 2, 1932. P. QUINTINA INSTRUMENT TO AID IN VOCAL TONE CULTURE Filed Nov. 28. 1931 v INVENTOR a m m a 0 0 M P Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES INSTRUMENT TO AID IN VOCAL TONE CULTURE Application filed November as, 1931. Serial No. 577,851.

This invention relates to a new and useful instrument to aid in vocal tone culture. Vocal teachers have great difiiculty in making their pupils open their mouths adequately for correct vocalization or tone placement, k and similarly great difliculty is encountered in making such pupils correctly position the tongue for such production. My invention comprises an instrument which may be held between the upper and lower teeth of the vocalist and which in its preferred form will hold the mouth open to the proper degree and will also hold the tongue in the proper position. The instrument is not only an aid in 5 teaching but by its use in practice inexperienced students may quickly form the habit of properlyopening the mouth and positioning the tongue. It is not only of great assistance to teachers and inexperienced students,

but it is also an aid to finished singers as well, since it sometimes happens that even they fall back in their work, eventually to find that the cause is due to the errors that my instrument will not only detect but, by its use for a short time, will correct.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated my invention in one preferred form only, being aware that it may be modified in a variety of ways without departing from 7 o its spirit or scope.

Fig. 1 is a side iew of my instrument as it would appear in use in one position of adjustment;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing said instrument in another position of adjustment;

Fig. 3 is a front edge elevation of the instrument.

1 represents the main body of the instru ment, which is arranged to be placed edge wise between the teeth of the vocalist, as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. 2 is a downwardly extending arm at the rear of said body which is so shaped its lower end that, when the body 1 is held between the teeth, it will bear on the tongue preferably near the tip so as to hold it properly depressed for correct vocalization. It will be noted that the lower end of the arm 2 is below the body 1 so that the tip of the tongue may be depressed below the upper edge of .ZBAOLO columns, or BROOKLYN, New YORK;

the lower teeth as shown. 7 If desired a relaon the tongue.

'spectively at 1'-'-1 and 1 1 These'steps Fig. 2 the instrument has been adjusted so tively broad pad 3 may be provided for comfort on that part of the device that is to bear In the drawing I have I shown thispad 3 as formed separately from the arm 2 and secured thereto by side pieces -8"-. It will be noted that the body 1 and extension 2 are comparatively thin, so

as not to interfere with the outflowing tone vibrations produced by the vocalist. The

upper and lower edges of the body 1 are disposed at an angle to each other and are, preferably provided respectively with a series of what I may term steps, indicated repermit the device to be so adjusted between theteeth at different positions so as to hold the mouth open as required and also so as to compensate for thephysical differences between different vocalists as to mouth structure. Again, by providing a series of these steps on the upper and lower edges of the body 1 the angular position of the instrument may be shifted so as to adjust the tongue depresser arm 2 up or down to fit the particular vocalist using the same. In Fig. 1 it will be noted that the users' teeth (indicated in dotted lines) engage certain steps of the upperand lower series, while in G that the upper teeth engage a different step in the upper series. These two views merely illustrate two of the many positions of adjustment that the instrument is susceptible of for holding the mouth open more or less or for depressing the tongue more or less.

It will be apparent that any vocalist using the instrument when hev or she once finds the proper steps upon which to rest the teeth for proper mouth opening andtongue depression may thereafter use the instrument correctly to overcome any bad habit that he or she-may have acquired regarding mouth or tongue control.

The instrument may be made of any. suitable material, it being of course preferable to select a strong material that is not unfriendly to the teeth or the'tongue tissue.

.At first the use of the instrmneiit will seem awkward unless'the vocalist is performing correctly. WVith an inexperienced pupil that is due to the fact that he or she has not as yet learned to properly open the mouth or control the tongue; By continuing its use in practicethis feeling of awkwardness will cause of his inferior work and may cure it by resuming its use for a time in practice. This not only applies to inexperienced pupils but to experienced singers as well, because even artists by reason of illness, overwork or fatigue may fall back in their work for a time and beat a loss to know the cause. a time, if the trouble is due to the causes to which I have referred, the artist may quickly ascertain and remove the trouble by the use of myinstrument.

The instrument may also be employed to great advantage by dramatic artists, orators and preachers in aiding them in keeping the mouth open adequately and the tongue depressed properly for free and unstrained speech. It likewise may be used by stutterers to overcome what in a large measure is fresaid free end portion and extending transthe purpose described.

versely thereof for PAOLO QUINTINA.

At such quently due to nerve reaction resulting from improper muscular'action of the tongue due to misplacement.

I claim: 0 1. An instrument to aid in vocal tone culture comprising, a thin body designed to be held edgewise between the upper and lower front teeth, an arm at the rear of said body extending downwardly to a point below the same to hold the tongue depressed, the tooth engaging edges of said body'being disposed angularly to one another to permit the device to be adjusted to vary thedegree of spacing of the teeth and the degree of depression of the tongue.

2. An instrument to aid in vocal tone culture comprising, a thin body designed to be held edgewise between the upper and lower front teeth, an arm projecting rearwardly from the mid-rear portion of said body and extending downwardly therefrom to a point beyond the lower edge of said body, and upper and lower edges of said body being disposed angularly to one another, with steps on the upper and lower edges of said body for en'- gagement by the upper and lower teeth.

3. An instrument to aid in vocal tone culture comprising, a body designed to be held.

between the upper and lower teeth an arm extendlng rearwardly from the body and hav ing a downwardly disposed free end portion to engage and depress the tongue, whereby the tongue when depressed is substantially free 

